20 lakh fishermen to get ID cards this year
Says fisheries and livestock minister
The countrys 20 lakh fishermen will be provided with identity cards by the end of the year 2015 for welfare of the fishermen under a development project which has been taken by the Department of Fisheries.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque yesterday came up with the announcement at a press conference arranged at Matsya Bhaban in the capital on the occasion of National Fisheries Week-2015 that begins countrywide from July 28.
The present government is implementing a development project with a view to ensuring registration and providing ID cards at the personal initiative of the Prime Minister. We are optimistic that it would be possible to give ID cards to 20 lakh fishermen by 2015, said the minister.
Sayedul Hoque while addressing at the press conference said that the programme is aimed at connecting people and making them aware to build Sonar Bangla utilising the huge potentials of the countrys fisheries resources.
Mentioning that Bangladesh has got its right to collect marine resources over 1,18,813 nautical sq km following the settlement of disputes with India and Myanmar through International Court, the minister said , the government has taken an initiative to introduce long-liner commercial fishing trawler for catching the tuna fishes from the deep sea raising production of hilsha.
About formalin use in fish, he said the government is very serious to check this bad practice. Its the governments duty to stop it and mobile courts are being operated every week to this end.
In addition, he said that the government has decided to form Hilsha Development Trust Fund for sustainable production of this popular national fish.
The overall production of the Hilsha has now rised to 3,85,000 tonnes and necessary programmes will be taken to raise the production of the hilsha further, added the minister.
While speaking as the chief guest at the press conference, the minister said that the government has imposed ban on catching of all types of fishes by the commercial trawlers at the blue economic zone of the Bay of Bengal for the first time in 2015 for duration of 65 days from May 20 to July 23 last for preserving and sustainable breeding of marine fisheries.
Talking about various welfare programmes undertaken by the government, Sayedul Haque said the government has distributed a grant of Tk 1.19 crore in the last three years among 247 fishermen families who had been killed in the sea due to natural disaster.
Selina Afroz, fisheries and livestock secretary and Arif Azad, dg of Fisheries Department, among others were present at the press conference.
The national fisheries week is being observed with a theme - Sagar Nadi Sakal Jole, Match Chashe Sona Foley.
The weeklong celebration is held, every year, to create greater awareness among the people about the countrys fish resources. This year, too, there will be programmes at the national and distract levels.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will officially inaugurate the programme and distribute prizes among 18 people and institutions for special contribution to the sector. She will also release fish fries at Gana Bhaban pond on the second day of the Week.
